In reference to a recent interview with disenfranchised librarians [“Reading Is Incidental,” November 15] and recent editorial reply [Letters, November 22]:
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We’ve had numerous commissioners over the past 20-plus years that I have been a librarian for CPL. Mary Dempsey, though not without political ambition, has at least pursued her job with gusto, and Mayor Daley has likewise provided support for libraries. Before Dempsey’s time CPL was run by self-interest and neglect. Magazine subscriptions, though somewhat uniform, are portioned out in a more equal fashion than in the past. More centralized ordering is likely more efficient. There are core books which every library should own. Budgets were neglected by acquisitions and librarians in the past–librarians either over- or underspent for various reasons.
HWLC is not a research library. There are some busy departments and decent collections; however, NYPL it ain’t. Sulzer Regional, at one-eighth HWLC’s size, is close to HWLC in circulation with far fewer staff members and longer hours.
